How to Open Excel in Safe Mode

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that is used to organize, analyze and visualize data. However, there are times when it may not work as expected due to various reasons such as conflicting add-ins, corrupt files, or system crashes. In such cases, opening Excel in Safe Mode can help you diagnose and fix the problem.

In this article, we will show you how to open Excel in Safe Mode in different versions of Microsoft Excel.

Method 1: Use the Run Command

This method works for all versions of Microsoft Excel installed on Windows operating system. Here are the steps:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “excel /safe” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box and hit Enter.
  3. Microsoft Excel will open in Safe Mode. You will see a message saying “Safe Mode” in the title bar of the Excel window.

Method 2: Use the Command Prompt

This method also works for all versions of Microsoft Excel installed on Windows operating system. Here are the steps:

  1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type “cmd” (without the quotes) in the Run dialog box and hit Enter.
  3. In the Command Prompt window, type “excel /safe” (without the quotes) and hit Enter.
  4. Microsoft Excel will open in Safe Mode.

Method 3: Use the Ctrl Key

This method works for Microsoft Excel 2010 and later versions. Here are the steps:

  1. Press and hold the Ctrl key on your keyboard.
  2. Double-click the Excel shortcut icon on your desktop or in the Start menu.
  3. Keep holding the Ctrl key until you see a message asking you to confirm if you want to open Excel in Safe Mode.
  4. Click Yes, and Microsoft Excel will open in Safe Mode.

Method 4: Use the Run Command on Mac

This method works for Microsoft Excel 2016 and later versions installed on Mac operating system. Here are the steps:

  1. Open the Terminal application on your Mac.
  2. Type “open -a excel.app –args -safe” (without the quotes) and hit Enter.
  3. Microsoft Excel will open in Safe Mode.

Method 5: Use the Shift Key on Mac

This method works for Microsoft Excel 2011 and later versions installed on Mac operating system. Here are the steps:

  1. Press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard.
  2. Double-click the Excel shortcut icon on your desktop or in the Applications folder.
  3. Keep holding the Shift key until you see a message asking you to confirm if you want to open Excel in Safe Mode.
  4. Click Yes, and Microsoft Excel will open in Safe Mode.

Conclusion

Opening Excel in Safe Mode can help you troubleshoot various issues that may be preventing it from working properly. We hope the methods described in this article have been helpful to you. If you still encounter issues with Excel, you may need to repair or reinstall the software, or seek help from Microsoft support.